News

University of Virginia students overwhelmingly choose iPod

By LC Angell ● Monday, March 5, 2007

Some 67% of first-year University of Virginia students own an iPod, according to the school’s annual technology survey. For the past 10 years, U.Va. has questioned every new student about the technology they bring to school—from their operating system to game console. In addition to the iPod usage, this year’s survey of 3,092 students also found that 20% of first-years are using Macs, which is up from just 3% in 2002.

“The question is, what is it taking the place of?” said UVa sociology professor Allison Pugh of the iPod. “If it is replacing a game of pick-up basketball, then the university is a poorer place because of their prevalence. If students are using iPods to drown out dorm noise so they can study, say, or to entertain themselves when they go running, then iPods aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Studies show that young people spend almost 2.5 hours listening to music every day. iPods are probably tapping right into that culture.”

Comments

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Now, I’m from VA, but have to admit that this Professor Allison Pugh doesn’t seem to bright.

What is the iPod taking the place of?...uhhh let’s see. How about a walkman or portable CD players and even shelf audio systems.

Posted by 3rdEye on March 5, 2007 at 12:39 PM (CST)

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College guy 1: “Hey man… wanna shoot some hoops?”

College guy 2: “No thanks dude… I’m listening to my iPod.”

Seems like a normal conversation to me.

Posted by thelottery on March 5, 2007 at 1:57 PM (CST)

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This just in: iPods are popular with young adults.

Posted by Galley on March 5, 2007 at 4:32 PM (CST)

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College guy 1: “Hey man… why don’t we multi-task and put the iPod in the Bose SoundDock?”

College guy 2: “That’s cool dude… Game on!”

Posted by will_bc on March 5, 2007 at 6:15 PM (CST)

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They also said “For the first time this year, the inventory included video game consoles, and only 6 percent of the first-year students brought a game system with them. Considering that a recent survey indicates that 76 percent of high school student households have at least one video game platform, the U.Va. inventory resulted in a surprisingly low number.”

Does that mean High School kids who play video games are in all likelihood not going to on college? Hmmmmm….....

Posted by will_bc on March 5, 2007 at 6:20 PM (CST)

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iPods are tapping into the culture of ‘music listening’! call the authorities.

Posted by rampal on March 5, 2007 at 8:39 PM (CST)

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No, Will, it just means that most college students don’t have time to play video games over all the studying, partying, and getting laid. You can’t play your PS2 while doing homework, you’d be too busy to play it at a party, and you DEFINITELY can’t play it when you’re getting laid.
As opposed to the iPod, where you can take it when you work out, study, or to a party.

Posted by The Soup Nazi on March 5, 2007 at 9:34 PM (CST)

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Sorry for double-posting:

But it is possible to work out and exercise while listening to your iPod, while you can’t play on your console and work out at the same time, unless you play DDR or own a Wii.

Posted by The Soup Nazi on March 5, 2007 at 9:35 PM (CST)

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I think what the Sociologist is referring to is a concern over individualistic behaviors (like ipod) overwhelming/overtaking situations where people would normally socialize in groups…Socializing with friends and meeting people and doing crazy fun stuff together is a huge part of college and one of the best parts about the whole college scene - - if people are spending major time being in an ‘isolated state’ with their ipods, rather than hanging out with others…you have less time to form the kinds of relationships college campuses have been known to foster…I’m showing my age here, but I just had a get-together with 4 college buddies for our 16 year ‘reunion’. We had hundreds of stories to remember; I didn’t have the same kind of relationships with people in Grad School - it was more superficial in nature, less personal and none of it compares to my college experience.